Top five car colours for 2009

Top five car colours for 2009

Blue making a comeback

byJodi Lai | April 20, 2009

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A model poses next to a blue Maserati at Auto Shanghai 2009, China's largest auto show. on April 20, 2009.PETER PARKS/AFP/Getty Images

Judging a book by its cover and judging a car by its colour are no different. Different colours say different things about the drivers who pick them and can sometimes make or break the appeal and longevity of a car.

Could you imagine a Ferarri that isn’t red? We see yellow and black ones occasionally, but they get snubbed by hardcore Ferarri fanatics.

Do you remember the hideous vomit-coloured BMW M3? BMW’s colour choice was the laughing stock of the entire automotive community when it was released. Silver is a classic Porsche colour and British cars almost always have to be dark green. Also, if you drive a white or blue Impala or Town Car, people will think you’re a police officer.

According to DuPont Automotive’s Colour Popularity Report, white is still the top choice, holding 20% of the North American market, while silver and black are tied at 17%. Blue is making a strong comeback, according to the report, coming in at 13%. Grey stands at 12% while red is at 11%, beiges and brown at 5%, green at 3%, yellow and gold at 2% and other colours filling in less than 1%.

Cars with metallic paint are worth more than cars with flat colours and usually demand a premium in dealer showrooms. Metallic cars are said to sell faster as used cars, and could be worth more than a flat-coloured counterpart.

Loud colours such as reds, yellows and oranges are generally more popular on sports cars and compacts, while larger vehicles such as SUVs and trucks, tend to me more neutral.

1. White is probably so popular because it doesn’t show dirt and seems more unique than silver. It’s also said to be unpretentious, with more buyers of luxury cars opting for unassuming pearly finishes instead of loud colours. Also, light colours act as reflectors, so white cars won’t be as hot after sitting in a sunny parking lot all day.

2. Silver also doesn’t show dirt and shares many benefits with white-coloured cars. In pouring rain and bad weather conditions, some complain that silver camouflages too easily and is difficult to see.

3. Black has a stealthy look to it, but shows scratches, dirt and dust like a lighthouse on a foggy night. Black is seen as a sophisticated colour, as a black car generally requires more maintenance to keep it looking fresh. Black also shows off a car’s lines more than a silver car.

4. Blue is going to go through a revival this year, according to DuPont. Dark blues are luxurious while lighter blue hues can be fun and playful in compact cars.

5. Grey is often chosen by people who want to get away from the commonality of silver, but crave all the benefits it offers. Grey could be called anything from "gun metal" to "seal grey" with those looking for something more badass opting for the harsher sounding gun metal.